IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 10, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- This New Year, millions of Americans have once again committed to a fresh batch of resolutions, though it is statistically proven that most will not stick for more than a couple of weeks. While that fall-off is currently beginning for many, Taco Bell is announcing its set of New Year's "commitments" that the brand will follow through on in 2019, and beyond.

"We decided to scratch the idea of New Year's resolutions and instead make New Year's commitments," said Julie Masino, President of North America at Taco Bell. "From simplifying our ingredients while improving food quality, to creating more new jobs, to improving our recycling efforts, these are just some of our promises to keep doing even better and being even better, and they are promises that we know we will keep."

In 2017, Taco Bell vowed to remove XL soda cups, use only cage-free eggs across its menu, only serve chicken raised without antibiotics important to human medicine, develop more opportunities for young people by supporting the Taco Bell Foundation in growing the Live Más Scholarship program and create more U.S. jobs. Having made good on those commitments, Taco Bell is now taking its purposeful initiatives to the next level. This year, the brand is continuing its journey to give fans more of what they want and less of what they don't.

Here are seven of Taco Bell's 2019 Commitments (just to start the year off):

1. Make Taco Bell as craveable as ever with even simpler, higher quality ingredients:

What Taco Bell is working to take away: Taco Bell has now removed ALL artificial colors and flavors from its core menu, and where possible will continue to remove preservatives and other additives from its food. By Spring of this year, the brand plans to have fully removed the synthetic preservative tBHQ from all of its menu items. Taco Bell is in the process of reducing sodium from its menu items and aiming for a 25 percent total reduction by 2025. And what it is enhancing: Taco Bell's continued pursuit of the highest quality ingredients. For example, in the U.S., the brand currently uses grilled all-white meat chicken, vine-ripened tomatoes, makes its guacamole only from Hass avocados and makes its pico de gallo fresh every day.

2. Work to ensure all of its beef is sustainable:

Taco Bell joined the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef (USRSB), a network of beef experts comprised of representatives from the supply chain, academia and research, environmental and animal welfare organizations, and veterinarians all working together to improve the sustainability of U.S.-grown beef.

3. Improve recycling efforts, one cup at a time:

Taco Bell recently rolled out recyclable cold cups and lids in all of its 7,000 U.S. restaurants, which account for more than 95 percent of its drinks sold. Taco Bell is committed to making 100 percent of its restaurant cups recyclable by 2021, with help from its partners at the NextGen Cup Consortium Challenge.

4. Be even easier and better for vegetarians and flexitarians:

Later this year, Taco Bell will be testing its first, dedicated vegetarian menu in stores, as well as new featured vegetarian items to enjoy. As the only American Vegetarian Association-certified QSR, Taco Bell has more than 8 million vegetarian combinations, and there are plenty of gratifying meatless options from which to choose as well – enough to customize a new meal every day for nearly 20,000 years.

5. Not make consumers choose between affordability and craveability:

Every year, Taco Bell renews its commitment to make sure a single $1 goes further on its menu without sacrificing on taste, size or quality. With more than 20 menu items at the dollar price point, like the Spicy Potato Soft Taco, Triple Layer Nachos, Beefy Fritos® Burrito and Cinnamon Twists, Taco Bell has fans covered for every meal with value that is truly beyond belief. At the same time, Taco Bell will continue to offer incredible, abundant value beautifully boxed at just $5.

6. Create more jobs in the U.S.:

Taco Bell will continue to work towards its commitment to creating 100,000 new U.S. jobs by 2022. As the business grows, so do employment opportunities within Taco Bell.

7. Support the Taco Bell Foundation in its efforts to enable young people to pursue their passions and dreams:

The Taco Bell Foundation more than doubled its funding goal, committing to award $21 million in scholarships by 2021, with more than $4 million on the table this year alone--$1 million more than what was awarded in 2018. Customers will also be able to "round up" their order total to the nearest dollar at checkout, turning that $1.49 Crunchy Taco into a $2 meal that feeds them and the educational dreams of passionate innovators and creators.

Stay tuned for updates throughout the year on how Taco Bell is progressing with these goals, and where the company has added new commitments to reflect what matters most to its fans, team members and the brand.